Is EDF ready to deprive the UK of 4% of its electricity sooner than expected? According to TelegramThe French energy company -which operates the 5 nuclear power plants in operation on the other side of the Channel- could decide not to extend the useful life of two of them due to a new tax on extraordinary profits decided by the British Government and which came into force on last week.
The collection of this temporary tax earmarked for electricity producers should help households pay their energy bills. But this new tax is not going down well with companies producing low-carbon energy, as well as some Conservative MPs who fear it will discourage investment in the UK at a time when the country is concerned about its energy supply.
For EDF, the windfall tax it could make it difficult to keep the aging Heysham 1 (2 reactors) and Hartlepool (2 reactors) power stations commissioned in 1983 and now serving four million homes. Last September, the French energy company said it was seriously considering extending the life of these two sites beyond the closure date initially set for March 2024.
“It will be taken into account”
But the new income tax added to the inflationary context seems to have changed the situation. “Of course, this will factor into the business case for the extension of the useful life (of the two plants). It’s not going to make things easier,” he told the agency. Telegram Rachael Glaving, Commercial Director of EDF UK.
This announcement comes as the UK already fears it will have to cut back this winter. In the worst case scenario, the strong need for electricity caused by the drop in temperatures would also be accompanied by reduced imports of gas from Norway and electricity from France. An extreme situation that would then force Great Britain to apply power cuts for a total of four days.
Source: BFM TV
